Japan pledges $6b aid

TOKYO, May 26 (Agencies): Japan has pledged an assistance of 600 billion yen (equivalent to US$6 billion) to Bangladesh over the next five years, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said Monday.

Shinzo Abe's announcement came at a joint press conference with his visiting Bangladesh counterpart Sheikh Hasina after the two leaders held formal talks at Japanese Premier's office in Tokyo.

Sheikh Hasina is on a four-day official visit to Japan.

The promised aid will be given through implementation of the concept of the Bay of Bengal industrial Growth Belt (BIG-B), proposed by the Japanese Premier.

Earlier the two leaders signed a joint statement.

The Japanese Premier said his country has proposed the formation of Bay of Bengal Industrial Growth Belt to help Bangladesh realize its huge economic potentials and expedite its growth.

"Prime Minister Hasina and I shared the view to build a comprehensive partnership," Shinzo Abe said.

"Taking this opportunity of the Prime Minister Hasina's visit to Japan, I would like to further strengthen the bilateral relationship through comprehensive partnership," he added.

He said that they shared the views to start a joint Bangladesh-Japan Public-Private Economic Dialogue to promote trade and expand private investment.

He said Japan and Bangladesh will start a foreign secretary -level dialogue in enhancing cooperation in politics and security.

"In order to jointly extend cooperation to the international communities, Japan will also share its knowledge to build a peace centre to be established in Bangladesh," he added.

The Japanese Prime Minister said that Japan and Bangladesh will start an expert-level dialogue on the peaceful utilization of nuclear power in Bangladesh.

The experts, he said, will share the experience and lessons of the accident of Fukushima Daiichi power plant in Japan.

During the talks, Shinzo Abe expected that Bangladesh will further consolidate democracy under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

At the press conference, Sheikh Hasina said the Japanese Prime Minister shared his intention to promote the concept of the Bay of Bengal Industrial Growth Belt (BIG-B) during the summit talks.

"I express our deep gratitude to Your Excellency Prime Minister Abe and your government for this commitment," she said.

The Bangladesh premier thanked the Japanese government for approving the 35th ODA Loan Package for the execution of five important projects. "It will have an impact on the socioeconomic development," she said.

Sheikh Hasina said during the official talks with Shinzo Abe, they have discussed almost all issues of bilateral ties, including economic cooperation. "I am pleased to state that it was a very constructive discussion," she said.

"Thereafter, we have signed a joint statement reflecting the issues discussed and convergences arrived at. And the joint statement would provide a guide for the implementation of issues we both decided to carry out for the mutual benefit of two countries," she said.

The Bangladesh premier said she is visiting the great country, Nippon, the land of rising sun, at the invitation of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

"My delegation and I are deeply touched by the warm hospitality and courtesy extended to us since we have arrived in Japan," she said.

Sheikh Hasina said it is a matter of happiness for her to be visiting Japan again.

She said she has already extended an invitation to Prime Minister Abe and Madam Abe to pay a visit to Bangladesh soon. "The people of Bangladesh, my government and I are looking forward to receiving them in Dhaka," she said.

She said she has invited Prime Minister Abe and Madam Abe to pay a visit to Bangladesh soon.

Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali, State Minister for Foreign Affairs M Shahriar Alam, Ambassador At large M Ziauddin, Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister Abdus Sobhan Sikder, ERD Secretary Md Mejbahuddin, Foreign Secretary Shahidul Haque, Bangladesh ambassador Masud Bin Momen and PM's Special Assistant Mahbubul Hoque Shakil were among others during the Summit-level talks.